The cheapest Windows 8 upgrade and OEM deals

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Windows 8 has finally arrived and Microsoft is doing everything in its power to get those spiffy new live tiles on your computer. Early reactions to Redmond’s new OS are alittle mixed, but if you’re ever thinking about diving in — either now, or a few months down the line — now is definitely the best time to buy a copy of Windows 8. In some cases, you could save almost $100 by purchasing Windows 8 today. Let’s go over all the options.

If you just bought a computer, Microsoft is cutting you a great deal on Windows 8. The Windows Upgrade Offer is a program the maker of your system probably mentions somewhere in its materials, but who pays attention to that stuff? The gist of it is that you can register on Microsoft’s site to get a $14.99 upgrade to Windows 8 Pro.

To be eligible for this, you must have bought your Windows 7 PC from a Microsoft partner between June 2 2012 and January 31 of 2013. So you can still go buy last year’s model at a discount and get Windows 8 for a pittance.

For those that aren’t rocking new systems, Microsoft is still doing you a solid. If you are running Windows XP, Vista, or 7, your computer can get an upgrade license to Windows 8 Pro for just $39.99 from the Microsoft site. This is an all-digital transaction — no physical disks will be sent your way. You get an in-place upgrade EXE to run, and the bits are downloaded. This offer is only good through January 31, 2013. We would assume that Microsoft will continue to offer digital downloads, but presumably at a higher price.

If you’re a little paranoid about the above scenario, you can still get a physical Windows 8 Pro upgrade disc sent to you. You can buy a packaged upgrade for $69.99 from the same Microsoft page that offers the $39.99 download. Again, this deal ends January 31, 2013.

For a limited time (again, January 31), you can also get Windows Media Center for Windows 8 for free. Microsoft originally pulled Media Center from Windows 8, but after significant backlash it unveiled this free upgrade.

Finally, if you’re running Windows 8 Release Preview, Microsoft has said in the past that you can use the same $40/60 upgrades to update to the final version of Windows 8. This isn’t mentioned on Microsoft’s official upgrade FAQ, though, and we haven’t been able to independently test it.

Windows 8 OEM

If you’re anything like the ExtremeTech staff, you like to spend your free time elbow deep in a PC tower cursing loudly at the gods of technology. When you build a new system, you’ll get a slightly different choice this time around. With Windows 7 you were able to buy a full retail copy of the OS that could be installed on any one PC at a time, or an OEM edition that was locked to one system. With Windows 8, the OEM version (now sometimes called “system builder”) is all you’ve got.

The OEM disc will have to be purchased from a third-party like Amazon or Newegg in the US. Microsoft isn’t selling these licenses directly. There are also more versions to watch out for here. There are separate 64- and 32-bit SKUs to choose from, but you should almost always get 64-bit now. You also have to contend with Pro and non-Pro versions. The non-Pro version is going to be installed on inexpensive PCs and Microsoft won’t even sell you an upgrade to this version. It lacks domain support, Media Center, and remote desktop, among other things. A non-Pro OEM license costs $99.99 and the Pro version is $139.99. These aren’t upgrades, mind you. OEM editions can be installed from scratch.

These prices seem to be discounted, too, but we’re not sure when the discount ends (probably January 2013). When the special offer expires, the full price for Windows 8 is $140, and Windows 8 Pro will be $200.

You’ve got plenty of options for Windows 8 upgrades on your PC, but don’t expect to be able to drop Windows RT on any random tablet. Windows RT bears a striking resemblance to Windows 8, and does share a lot of code, but it’s a different product designed for ARM chips instead of x86. Microsoft is not making Windows RT directly available to consumers at all. Only the OEMs that make ARM-based Windows RT tablets will have access to the bits.

Consumers used to have to spend big on Windows updates, but we live in a more sane time. If you fancy those snazzy live tiles, you can get Windows 8 without breaking the bank.

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I like windows 8. It is faster than windows 7 and once you get used to the interface it is really nice. What I don’t like is that after 7 install attempts (2 of them done by Microsoft tech support) I had to do a clean install to get it to work. Then I come to find that media center is not included, so I apply for the free product key, a process which for some reason is not automated and takes more than the promised 24 hours. At this point I am still happy with windows 8. Once I load media center I come to find that my TV tuner card is not compatible with windows 8 (yes, I know this is not Microsoft’s fault). I search the web, but no drivers exist to make my ATI/AMD TV tuner work. So in the end I create a new partition on one hard drive and reinstall Windows 7 just so my tuner will work.

If you haven’t upgraded to Windows 8 I would recommend waiting a few weeks for all the bugs to get worked out. I have learned my lesson, no more OS upgrades on launch day.

http://profiles.google.com/robert.moody1 Robert Moody

I love Windows 8. It is clean and fast. And I am not a fan of the tiles. So I found a “Start” button and I’m sitting comfortably in an environment I know. This is, of course, for my desktop PC.

If you just want windows 8 as a secondary boot for now, I sugest entering other brand in the 14.99$ upgrade option. Tried it this weekend, sleek and fast but I don’t think I can get used to the os until I can get a touch monitor (one that isin’t 600$+ hopefully). Maybe it’s just me but hovering the mouse on the side of the screen dosen’t seem to work that well. Specially trying to get the settings to pop up on the right side.

Microsoft also screwed with the side by side windows setting. Now its more obvious that you can multitask by having two applications side by side BUT the default seems to be 1 app gets 1/3 of the screen while the other one gets 2/3. Couldint find a 1/2 split, then again I haven’t looked that hard.

IneffableCause

I read that 1/2 screen split is not an option. Which does seem a little silly. I use dual monitors so I’m thinking it may not be an issue for me once I upgrade. (Waiting for a new SSD to come in.) I do think they should offer the 1/2 split. Probably in SP1.

http://www.facebook.com/bill.hamilton.9674 Bill Hamilton

Id like to mention i upgraded from the Windows 8 beta and everything worked fine for me.

http://www.mrseb.co.uk/ Sebastian Anthony

Awesome! Thanks for the info :)

smarterthanuare

The $39.99 Windows 8 option is a waste. I currently have Windows 7 SP 1 installed on my hard drive. I intended to do a clean installation by booting off of the Windows 8 DVD. For some reason Microsoft removed EFI support from this version. After I downloaded it I chose the option to create an ISO file which I burned to DVD. My computer’s EFI firmware says the DVD isn’t bootable. I can boot from my Windows 7 DVD just fine. With the Windows 7 DVD my computer’s firmware lists a boot option called “UEFI:DVD Writer”. If I boot up my computer with the Windows 8 DVD inserted the firmware says there are no bootable devices.

opi

Wrong you install this as I did on a HD no more than 2TB with some OS on it and upgrade. If a you have a UEFI bios you can now attach a blank 3TB drive which shows as 2 sections in Disk Management. Do not create any volumes on it yet but right click the the little box in front of it and select GPT and now you have ONE space of 3TB or more that you create a volume full size and format.

The procedure you mention is only needed if you install the OS on a 3TB out off the gate.

This article was very timely and just saved me a bunch of money! I have 3 machines to upgrade (2 desktops, 1 laptop) and was going to buy the $70 version – glad to know I can get the digital download for $40 – you just saved me $90 – THANKS!!

http://www.mrseb.co.uk/ Sebastian Anthony

Hooray! You’re welcome — thanks for letting us know :)

http://twitter.com/sjkotler Stephen Kotler

I am planning on buying a new laptop but most systems do not come with W8 Pro. Can you use the W8 Pro upgrade to replace the regular W8 version, or do you need to buy the full W8 Pro version?

Umair Naqvi

I have bought an oem windows 7 pc in May 2012. I upgraded it to windows 8 digitally with a $39 offer. Can I transfer this license to a new PC which was bought without OS.

Mario

This morning i upgraded from Win 8 RP to Win 8 Pro.I paid 39.99$ and after that, upgrade assistant started downloading 2 GB file from Microsoft.My questions is, if i burn this to DVD, will i be able to go with clean install in the future from this media, or is this valid only to upgrade from current OS? I know, a little stupid question, but i hope you understand what i mean :)

Rusty

I did use this very same media in the same circumstances to boot and clean install but most of the software and drivers will still be coming from Microsoft out of the gate so you will need a very reliable internet connection for this install.

rik

Hi, was given win8 as a present for xmas. Do I or dont I upgrade? Any chance of you techie guys giving thumbs up or down? First 10 up or down wins! Thanks

Mona

I bought my laptop in early 2012, unfortunately, I am not eligible for windows upgrade offer. how can I get windows 8 offer now ?

Robert W. Burnham

I swap out computer hardware frequently, including the motherboard and CPU, so an OEM version worries me. I need a full version of the OS that I can move from PC to PC. Thing is, you can’t even buy a full retail version. Is my best bet buying a retail version of a previous version of Windows plus a Windows 8 upgrade disc?

http://www.odosta.com/ Tayyib Ahsan

No doubt, Windows 7 Professional 64bit is a Pro version of Microsoft, Which has all recommended functions, So you can install it with low specs of your system, As you can see; 1GB Processor, 512mb Ram and 8Gb HDD is required to install Windows 7 Professional, But with these low specs, Your system will not slow, If you’re not using any apps, which required high specs.
Microsoft released many new OS, But Still I’m using it and suggest for others to install with its legal license, Which you can buy cheap at ODosta Store.
Using Boot into UEFI mode or legacy BIOS-compatibility mode when installing Windows from your USB, DVD, or network location, You’ll have full command to use it after having a legit version.
Legal OS will be full & functional with Microsoft updates and make your data safe and sound. Hope to understand.

http://www.odosta.com/ Tayyib Ahsan

No doubt, Windows 7 Professional 64bit is a Pro version of Microsoft, Which has all recommended functions, So you can install it with low specs of your system, As you can see; 1GB Processor, 512mb Ram and 8Gb HDD is required to install Windows 7 Professional, But with these low specs, Your system will not slow, If you’re not using any apps, which required high specs.
Microsoft released many new OS, But Still I’m using it and suggest for others to install with its legal license, Which you can buy cheap at ODosta Store.
Using Boot into UEFI mode or legacy BIOS-compatibility mode when installing Windows from your USB, DVD, or network location, You’ll have full command to use this after having a legit version.
Legal OS will be full & functional with Microsoft updates and make your data safe and sound. Hope to understand.

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